Best Potties UK 2026: A High Back Beats a Clever Conversion

COMPARISON · POTTY TRAINING

Potty training is one of those milestones where the kit feels like the least of your worries. You are thinking about timing, about accidents on the sofa, about whether your toddler is actually ready. Then you walk into a shop and find a whole wall of potties, from £5 plastic tubs to £40 mini toilets that play a flush sound, and suddenly the kit is a decision too.

Here is the thing most potty guides skip: the potty your child will happily sit on for five minutes matters far more than how many things it can turn into. A toddler who feels wobbly, perched or cramped will hop straight off. A toddler who feels held, with a high back, solid footing and somewhere to rest their arms, will sit still long enough for something to actually happen.

That is why our top two picks are both plain, one-job potty chairs, and the clever convertibles land further down the list. The 4-in-1 and 3-in-1 designs are genuinely useful later on, when you move to the big toilet, but their potty mode is usually lower-backed and a little less settled than a dedicated chair.

We compared published specs, current UK prices and stock, and the things parents tell us again and again once the novelty wears off: tipping, splashing, cleaning and whether the thing actually got used. Here are five potties from five different brands, from £12.50 to £35.90.

Lil' Bubba's verdicts

• Best Overall: BabyBjörn Potty Chair · 8.8/10 - high back, armrests and a rubber-gripped base that stays put when a toddler fidgets
• Best Value: OK Baby Pasha Potty · 8.4/10 - the same high-back, high-front shape for roughly a third of the price
• Best for Comfort: egg eggloo Potty · 8.2/10 - a soft cushioned seat and a lid that turns it into a little stool
• Best Convertible: Mamas & Papas 4-in-1 Grow and Learn Potty · 7.8/10 - potty, toilet trainer, step stool and wipe holder in one, rated to 40kg as a step
• Best Budget All-in-One: Bebeconfort 3in1 Potty, Toilet Seat and Step Stool · 7.4/10 - potty, toilet seat reducer and step stool for under £20

Quick comparison

Potty	Rating	Price	Type	Age / limit	Stand-out feature
BabyBjörn Potty Chair		£35.90	Potty chair	From around 18 months	High backrest, armrests, rubber strip underneath
OK Baby Pasha Potty		£12.50	Potty chair	From 1 year	0.72kg, high front splash guard, made in Italy
egg eggloo Potty		£35	Cushioned potty	6 to 36 months	Soft seat, lid closes to make a stool
Mamas & Papas 4-in-1 Grow and Learn Potty		£24.50	4-in-1 convertible	Potty from c.18 months (25kg); step 36m+ (40kg)	Wipe dispenser, red dot design award
Bebeconfort 3in1 Potty, Toilet Seat and Step Stool		£17.99	3-in-1 convertible	Up to 20kg	Potty, reducer and step stool, deflector for boys

How we picked the five

We started with the potties UK parents add to their lists most often, then cut anything that is really a novelty (dolls' potties, single-use travel bags) or that we cannot point you to from a UK retailer with stock today. We kept one product per brand so you are seeing five genuinely different design ideas, not five colourways of the same mould.

For each one we checked the manufacturer's published dimensions, age range and weight limit, current price, and what parents report after a few weeks of daily use. We weighted stability and seat comfort most heavily, then cleaning, then versatility. Price was the tie-breaker, not the starting point.

What to look for in a potty

A high back. This is the single biggest comfort feature. A high backrest lets a small child lean back and relax rather than perch, and a relaxed child stays put. Low-backed potties are fine for quick wees but tend to be abandoned for anything longer.

A base that does not move. Toddlers push down on the rim to stand up, and they rock. Look for a wide footprint and a rubber strip or non-slip feet. A potty that slides across a tiled floor mid-sit can put a child off for days.

A high front splash guard. Especially useful for boys, but helpful for everyone, because toddlers rarely sit perfectly upright. A deep, high-fronted bowl saves a lot of floor wiping.

A removable inner bowl with a handle. You will empty this many times a day. A bowl that lifts straight out, with something to hold, is far nicer than tipping the whole potty over the toilet.

Seat height. Your child's feet should rest flat on the floor with knees roughly level or slightly raised. Too low and taller toddlers end up folded; too high and smaller ones dangle and feel unsafe.

Convertible or dedicated? A 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 saves buying a toilet seat reducer and step stool later, which matters in a small bathroom. The trade-off is usually a slightly lower back and a lighter feel in potty mode. Some families buy a dedicated chair now and a convertible later; others want one item and are happy with that compromise.

1. BabyBjörn Potty Chair / 10 · Best overall

The BabyBjörn Potty Chair is the potty we hear recommended most often by parents who have already potty trained one child. It does one job and does it very well: a tall, curved backrest, soft armrests either side, a high splash guard at the front and an inner potty that lifts out to empty.

It sits a little higher than most potties, which suits taller toddlers and children who start training a bit later. Underneath, a rubber strip grips the floor, so the potty does not skid when your child plants their hands on the armrests to stand up. It is designed and made in Sweden from BPA-free, PVC-free polypropylene.

What parents love

• Feels like a proper chair. The high back and armrests mean children can lean back and settle. One parent told us: 'It was the first potty he would actually sit on for more than ten seconds.'
• Does not tip or slide. The wide base and rubber strip keep it planted, even with a wriggler pushing up off the sides.
• Very little mess. The deep inner potty and high front catch splashes that lower potties miss.
• Easy to empty. The insert lifts straight out and rinses clean, with no awkward seams for things to collect in.

What to know before you buy

• Bulky. It is one of the larger potties around, so it is not one to keep in a changing bag or a tiny bathroom.
• No later stage. It is a potty and only a potty, so you will still need a toilet seat reducer and step when the time comes.
• Priciest dedicated chair here. At £35.90 it costs almost three times the Pasha, which does a similar job.

Best for

• Taller toddlers and later starters
• Children who wriggle or get up and down a lot
• Parents who want the least mess on the floor
• Families who will use it for a second child

2. OK Baby Pasha Potty / 10 · Best value

The OK Baby Pasha is the potty we would point most budget-conscious families towards, because it gets the important things right for £12.50. Like the BabyBjörn, it has a high backrest and a raised front splash guard, and the large inner bowl lifts out by a handle for emptying.

It weighs just 0.72kg and measures 33.5 x 31 x 36.5cm, so it is easy to carry from room to room or put in the boot for a weekend away. It is designed and made in Italy and comes in soft neutral colours that do not shout from the corner of the bathroom.

What parents love

• High back for the price. Most potties at this price are low tubs. We hear repeatedly from parents that the Pasha's backrest is what keeps their toddler sitting long enough.
• Good for boys. The raised front guard stops most splashes over the rim.
• Light and portable. Easy to move between the bathroom and the living room in the early days of training.
• Simple to clean. Large removable bowl with a proper handle, and a smooth shell that wipes down quickly.

What to know before you buy

• Lighter means less planted. It is sturdy, but without the BabyBjörn rubber strip it can shift a little on very smooth floors.
• No armrests. The sides are moulded rather than shaped into proper arms, so it feels less enclosed.

Best for

• Families on a tight budget
• A second potty for upstairs, grandparents or the car
• Boys who need a high front guard
• Anyone who wants high-back comfort without the high-back price

3. egg eggloo Potty / 10 · Best for comfort

The eggloo is the softest potty here. Instead of hard plastic, your child sits on a cushioned seat with an ergonomic backrest, which can make a real difference to a toddler who dislikes the cold, hard feel of a standard potty.

Its other clever trick is the lid. Close it and the eggloo becomes a small stool, so it does not look like a potty sitting in the corner of the living room. When open, the lid tucks into a slot at the back that doubles as a carry grip. It is suitable from 6 to 36 months and won Gold for Best Potty in a 2025 parenting awards scheme.

What parents love

• Soft, comfy seat. A parent shared: 'She sat on it like it was her own little armchair, and that was half the battle.'
• Looks good in the home. With the lid down it reads as a stool, which helps if training happens in shared spaces.
• Non-slip base. The underside grips the floor so it does not wander when your child gets up.
• Anti-splash inner bowl. Lifts out for emptying and is shaped to keep spills in.

What to know before you buy

• Cushion needs wiping. A soft seat is lovely to sit on but needs a little more care to keep clean than bare plastic.
• Age cap of 36 months. Bigger or later-starting children may outgrow it sooner than the BabyBjörn.
• Bulky for storage. The rounded shape takes up more room in a cupboard than a stackable potty.

Best for

• Toddlers who refuse hard plastic seats
• Families training in the living room as well as the bathroom
• Parents who care how it looks
• Early starters from around the first birthday

4. Mamas & Papas 4-in-1 Grow and Learn Potty / 10 · Best convertible

If you only want to buy one thing for the whole journey from nappies to the big toilet, the Mamas & Papas 4-in-1 Grow and Learn Potty is the most complete option here. It starts as a potty, the top becomes a toilet trainer seat, the base turns into a step-up stool, and there is a built-in wet wipe dispenser.

The potty and toilet trainer are rated from around 18 months to 25kg, and the step stool from 36 months up to 40kg, so it genuinely keeps going for years. It is made in Europe from recyclable plastic free from BPA and plasticisers, and it has won a red dot design award.

What parents love

• Four products in one. Potty, toilet trainer, step stool and wipe holder mean fewer things to buy and store later.
• Long useful life. The 40kg step stool rating means it earns its place well into primary school years.
• Anatomical seat. Shaped to sit comfortably and reduce mess while in potty mode.
• Removable pan. Easy to empty and rinse in the early stages.

What to know before you buy

• Lower back in potty mode. The backrest is not as tall as a dedicated potty chair. We hear from parents that some younger toddlers prefer something more enclosed at first.
• More parts to manage. Separating and swapping the pieces takes a minute to learn, and pieces can wander.

Best for

• Small homes that only want one potty item
• Parents who want a step stool for handwashing later
• Children starting training at 2 or older
• Anyone who likes the wipe dispenser being right there

5. Bebeconfort 3in1 Potty, Toilet Seat and Step Stool / 10 · Best budget all-in-one

The Bebeconfort 3in1 does a similar job to the Mamas & Papas for a lot less money. It works as a potty, a toilet seat reducer and a step stool, with a deflector for boys and a removable bowl for easy cleaning.

It is a straightforward, no-frills design with a 20kg limit. You lose the wipe holder and some of the polish of the 4-in-1, but at under £20 it covers the same three stages most families actually need.

What parents love

• Three stages for under £20. Potty now, toilet seat and step later, without buying three separate items.
• Built-in deflector. Helps keep things tidy for boys in both potty and toilet seat modes.
• Easy clean. The bowl lifts out, and one parent put it best: 'It is just simple, which is exactly what you want at 7am.'

What to know before you buy

• Lowest back here. In potty mode it feels more like a seat than a chair, so it suits children who are already fairly confident.
• 20kg limit. A lower limit than the Mamas & Papas, so older or bigger children may outgrow the step sooner.
• Plainer finish. Functional rather than pretty, with a lighter build than the premium picks.

Best for

• Budget-conscious families wanting an all-in-one
• Confident toddlers who sit well already
• A spare set-up at a grandparent's house
• Small bathrooms where storage is tight

What about the BabyBjörn Smart Potty and Bumbo Step n Potty?

Both are popular, and we went deep on them in our BabyBjörn Smart Potty vs Bumbo Step n Potty comparison. In short, the Smart Potty is a smaller, cheaper, more portable cousin of the Potty Chair above, while the Bumbo is another convertible. We left them out here so you get five different brands and design ideas in one place.

You may also see mini toilet potties with flush sounds and toilet roll holders. Some children love the role play, but they are often lower-backed and pricier, so we would treat them as a fun extra rather than the main potty.

How to choose

If you want the potty most likely to keep a toddler sitting, choose the BabyBjörn Potty Chair. Its high back, armrests and grippy base make it the most settled seat here, and it will last for a second child.

If you want the same core shape for much less, choose the OK Baby Pasha Potty. You get a high back and high front for £12.50, which also makes it an easy second potty for upstairs or the car.

If your child hates hard seats, or the potty will live in the living room, choose the egg eggloo Potty. The cushioned seat and stool lid make it the cosiest and least obviously potty-like option.

If you want one item from potty to step stool, choose the Mamas & Papas 4-in-1 Grow and Learn Potty. It covers four jobs and rates the step to 40kg, which is the best long-term value if you have room for only one thing.

If you want an all-in-one but your budget is tight, choose the Bebeconfort 3in1 Potty, Toilet Seat and Step Stool. Three stages for under £20, best for toddlers who already sit confidently.

Add it to your Nest

Planning ahead, or want family to chip in on the potty training kit? Add your favourite to your free BubsNest registry alongside step stools, training pants and everything else on your list, so your Nest keeps it all in one place.